Flight from Dominican Republic making medical stop here

Published: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 6:25 p.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 6:25 p.m.

A commercial airliner traveling from the Dominican Republic to Montreal was diverted to Wilmington International Airport after a passenger suffered what appeared to be a heart attack, an airport official said Thursday evening.

The Sunwings Airline Boeing 737 carrying the patient was expected to land at ILM about 6:30 p.m., said Gary Broughton, the airport's operations director.

An EMS unit was called to the airport to meet the aircraft and take the 57-year-old male passenger to the hospital, Broughton said.

The airliner will land near the U.S. Customs office because it is an international flight and any passengers getting off the plane must pass through customs, he said.

<p>A commercial airliner traveling from the Dominican Republic to Montreal was diverted to <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/TOPIC9917"><b>Wilmington International Airport</b></a> after a passenger suffered what appeared to be a heart attack, an airport official said Thursday evening.</p><p>The Sunwings Airline Boeing 737 carrying the patient was expected to land at ILM about 6:30 p.m., said Gary Broughton, the airport's operations director.</p><p>An EMS unit was called to the airport to meet the aircraft and take the 57-year-old male passenger to the hospital, Broughton said.</p><p>The airliner will land near the U.S. Customs office because it is an international flight and any passengers getting off the plane must pass through customs, he said.</p><p><i></p><p>– Jim Ware</i></p>